Learning and education are fundamental parts of health care. Continually challenging ourselves, being curious, researching, asking questions and sharing knowledge are all essential to providing the best care for our patients.
Each year, Sinai Health awards scholarships and bursaries to encourage our people in continuing their studies and developing as professionals. We also award two scholarships each year to the children of employees and medical and dental staff to support them in pursuing higher education. These Diamond Jubilee scholarships encourage the spirit of discovery in the next generation of health care professionals. This year we held a virtual celebration to recognize these exemplary learners.
Here are this year’s scholarship and bursary recipients.
Georgi Georgievski – Rose Torno Bursary
The Rose Torno Bursary was created to encourage an interest in research or in health sciences education. This year’s recipient, Georgi Georgievski, is a Social Worker on the Transitional Care Unit at Bridgepoint, working with Alternate Level of Care (ALC) patients and a student in the PhD program at the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work at the University of Toronto. His experiences at Bridgepoint inspired him to further study to better understand the biomedical and psychosocial needs of ALC patients, and identify new ways to address barriers that impede their return to the community. His nominators say that he is a lifelong learner who exemplifies the values of Sinai Health – Service, Humanity, Inclusivity and Discovery.
Amanda Magnifico – Valerie Fine Bursary
The Valerie Fine Bursary honours a recipient who has demonstrated outstanding humanity in their work, something that Amanda Magnifico, Milk Prep Room Supervisor, embodies. Amanda has been working in the milk preparation room at Mount Sinai Hospital since 2012, and was recently accepted into the Masters of Health Science Health Administration program at the University of Toronto. Sought out by leaders for her expertise, Amanda is considered to be an excellent team player and collaborator. She is currently working with Information Services at Mount Sinai Hospital to launch an upgraded system which will improve patient care and safety as well as a project that will change Milk Prep Room operations in order to provide fresh breast milk to babies.
Dr. Elliot Lass – Bernard Ghert Award for Resident Excellence in Patient Focused Care
This award recognizes demonstrated excellence in patient care and teaching, particularly in interpersonal relationships with patients and families, and is awarded to a recipient who is considered a role model by other housestaff. Dr. Elliot Lass’s nominators speak of him having a profound commitment to patient-centred care and medical education. They also mention the ways he has consistently gone above and beyond his responsibilities with both patients and colleagues, including being an instrumental part of Sinai Health’s COVID-19 response – even volunteering on his own time in the Assessment Centre at Mount Sinai Hospital.
The Diamond Jubilee Scholarship was created in recognition of Mount Sinai Hospital’s 75th Anniversary, and is awarded to support higher education pursuits for the children of Sinai Health’s employees and medical and dental staff.
Our first Diamond Jubilee recipients, Tony Osei-Appiah is heading to the University of Toronto in the fall to major in Life Sciences. He aspires to become a pediatrician, as one way to make an impact on the community he works in, and to be a role model for visible minorities. Tony is hardworking, dedicated to social justice and student success initiatives, and wants to make a difference in the world. Tony’s mom Theresa Dwomoh is a Health Informatics Professional at Mount Sinai Hospital.
Stephen Wang is our second recipient of the Diamond Jubilee Award, and will be attending McMaster University, majoring in Health Sciences, with future plans to apply to medical school. Stephen has displayed intelligence, curiosity, motivation and creativity in his research projects. With a passion for learning, willingness to ask questions and eagerness to accept challenges, Stephen shows dedication to his community, and exceptional ability to work with peers and problem solve through challenges. Stephen’s mom Doreen Chu is a sonographer at Mount Sinai Hospital.